If you're interested in losing weight, it's important to take a healthy approach to weight loss. During the teen years, your body is still developing. Therefore, eating a well-rounded diet will assist in getting the nutrients needed for growth. You can, however, make healthier food choices to shed unwanted pounds. Daily activity will also assist in improving your health and result in quick and easy weight loss.
Start Exercising
Physical activity is a quick way for teens to lose unwanted pounds. Select fun activities like walking your dog, biking to school or playing sports to burn the calories. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that teens get 60 minutes of physical activity daily. You also need three strength training sessions weekly. Use resistance bands or free weights to strengthen the muscles. Physical activities, like gymnastics or yoga, also strengthen muscles.
Pay Attention to Portions
Many teens are overeating and don't even know it. Be more conscious of serving sizes by pre-measuring portion sizes. Start reading labels to learn the portion sizes of your favorite foods. Also, choose healthier food options. If you need help determining which foods are the best choice, MayoClinic.com offers a Healthy Weight Loss Pyramid tool. It provides the number of servings of each food group required daily, based on your age, height and weight.
Eat Breakfast
Some teens skip breakfast to shed unwanted pounds. This habit, however, is counter productive. Breakfast gets your metabolism started in the morning, allowing you to burn calories more efficiently. It also prevents overeating later in the day, which contributes to weight gain. Also, avoid sugary beverages that boost daily calorie consumption. Soda and juice are common problem drinks for teens. Instead, select carbonated water or low-fat milk.
Avoid Fad Diets
It's tempting to select a fad diet. However, these diets aren't a long-term solution for weight-loss. These diets focus on drastically cutting calories or limiting the types of food you can eat. Some of these diets recommend taking diet pills or laxatives that force the body to get rid of more water. These diets are difficult to maintain long-term. Once you stop the diet, weight gain will likely occur. Talk with your doctor before starting a new diet to ensure the diet is a healthy option.
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